NBA: Hornets beat Mavs in Kidd's debut

The Associated Press

Published Thursday, February 21, 2008

NEW ORLEANS -- Chris Paul had 31 points, 11 assist and a career-high nine steals, spoiling Jason Kidd's debut with Dallas and lifting the New Orleans Hornets to a 104-93 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Kidd, acquired Tuesday from New Jersey, looked out of sorts at times, committing six turnovers.

Meanwhile, Paul's dazzling performance on both ends of the floor had the enraptured crowd on its feet, raining down chants of "M-V-P!" for their own All-Star point guard while a banner offering similar sentiments flapped from the upper deck.

Kidd, who had practiced only twice with his new team, finished with eight points and five assists.

INDIANAPOLIS LeBron James had his second consecutive triple-double, with 31 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It was James' sixth triple-double of the season and the 16th of his career, and it helped the Cavaliers end a two-game losing streak. Larry Hughes added 19 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 14 points and 17 rebounds, but Cleveland lost guard Daniel Gibson to a sprained left ankle in the third quarter.

76ers 124, Knicks 84

PHILADELPHIA The Philadelphia 76ers rarely have had a win so easy, scoring 100 points through three quarters and crushing the New York Knicks.

New York had turnovers on almost every possession in some stretches, took ugly shots and trailed by 46 points in the third quarter. By the fourth quarter, a few Knicks fans or more likely 76ers fans poking fun at New York's dismal situation started the familiar "Fire Isiah!" chant. Coach Isiah Thomas couldn't escape the derisive jeer or another loss down I-95.

Jamal Crawford scored 14 points and Eddy Curry had 12 for the Knicks.

Raptors 127, Magic 110

TORONTO Chris Bosh had 40 points going 14-for-16 from the field and 11-for-11 from the foul line and Jose Calderon had 19 points and 13 assists for the Toronto Raptors.

Bosh made 11 of his first 12 shots and even made a rare 3-pointer in the third quarter.

Milwaukee, which avoided extending a season-high losing skid, also snapped a streak of four straight setbacks to Detroit, including a pair of embarrassing losses this season by an average of 35.5 points.

Nets 110, Bulls 102, OT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Marcus Williams, in his first game as Jason Kidd's temporary replacement at point guard, combined with Richard Jefferson for New Jersey's first 10 points of overtime.

Vince Carter led the Nets with a season-high 33 points, though appeared to be grabbing at his hamstring as the game ended. But Williams and Jefferson dominated the overtime on both ends of the floor.